The Allied invasion of Sicily, Italy, codenamed Operation Husky, began on the night of 9–10 July 1943, when 2,200 paratroopers were dropped into Gela. Amphibious landings started in the morning with German aircraft attacking the invasion fleet. A second drop started on the night of July 11 with USAAF C-47s and C-53s departing from runways around Kairouan, Tunisia. They flew in V formations of nine planes each at low altitude and lights out. The first two formations of transport planes followed their prescribed course and discharged their paratroopers squarely on target. When the next formations appeared over the shoreline, fire was opened from the ground by Allied forces on naval vessels and shore troops. The 52nd Troop Carrier Wing lost 23 of 144 USAAF C-47s to friendly fire; 83 airmen were killed. The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment suffered 81 dead. One C-47, known as the Hoosier Hot Shot, 41-18606, was one of the aircraft shot down by friendly fire. A fire erupted and four paratroopers were able to bail out in time. Another C-47 collided with the plane in an effort to avoid being hit by the machine gun fire below, and both crashed on Pantano D’Arcia, between Punta Secca and Scoglitti in Sicily. The C-47 that crashed into 41-18606 was burnt up, and only had one surviving paratrooper.